Although formerly considered either a subspecies of P. comata, or as a species in its own right (Brandon-Jones 1984, 1995), P. fredericae is most likely conspecific with P. comata (Nijman 1997). Although Groves (2005) continued to list the two as subspecies, it has been shown fairly conclusively that a chain of intermediate populations exists between the formerly recognized subspecies, representing a morphological gradation across the species’ range from grey to black.

Justification:
Listed as Endangered because its population size is estimated to number fewer than 2,500 mature individuals, there is a continuing decline in the number of mature individuals, and no subpopulation contains more than 250 mature individuals.

Population size has been estimated at between 2,285 (Supriatna et al. 1994) and 2,500 animals (MacKinnon 1996) in approximately 30 isolated populations. However, there remains some disagreement as to the actual number of individuals currently remaining.

This species was historically found from sea level to 2,565 m (V. Nijman pers. comm.), but is now mainly restricted to mountain habitat fragments. In the Pegunungan Dieng it is found in primary and secondary forests, at the edges and in the interior, and in lowland forests, forests on steep slopes and hills, and upper montane forest (Nijman and van Balen 1998). It is folivorous, but will also consume fruits, flowers, and seeds (Ruhiyat 1983).

Presbytis comata is threatened by habitat destruction (Nijman and van Balen 1998), such that the remaining populations are now mainly confined to montane forest patches, whereas the species once occurred across extensive lowland areas. Hunting is a persistent threat in many of the remaining population fragments.

This species is listed on CITES Appendix II. Most remaining populations in western Java exist in nature preserves where they are mostly safe from habitat disturbance and hunting. These sites include Ujung Kulon National Park, Halimun National Park, and Gede-Pangrango National Park (Nijman 1997). Most populations seem to have stabilized, and although they are fragmented, some retain large numbers of individuals.